Mike Pence receives heart pacemaker, full recovery expected

Former US vice president had the procedure after experiencing symptoms associated with a slow heart rate

FILE - In this Jan. 20, 2021, file phot, former Vice President Mike Pence speaks after arriving back in his hometown of Columbus, Ind., as his wife Karen watches. Pence is steadily re-entering public life as he eyes a potential run for the White House in 2024. He's writing op-eds, delivering speeches, preparing trips to early voting states and launching an advocacy group likely to focus on promoting the accomplishments of the Trump administration. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
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Former US vice president Mike Pence received a heart pacemaker device during routine surgery on Wednesday and is expected to fully recover, his spokesman said on Thursday.

Mr Pence, 61, who previously disclosed an "asymptomatic" heart condition, underwent the procedure at the Inova Fairfax medical centre in Virginia after experiencing symptoms associated with a slow heart rate over the past two weeks, spokesman Devin O'Malley said.


"I am grateful for the swift professionalism and care of the outstanding doctors, nurses and staff at Inova Heart and Vascular Institute," Mr Pence said, and added his thanks to his doctors in his home state of Indiana.
When he was nominated as Donald Trump's running mate in the 2016 presidential election, the former Indiana governor disclosed his medical history, including a diagnosis of asymptomatic left bundle branch block, a condition that can be a sign of an underlying heart condition.
"The routine surgery was successful and he is expected to fully recover and return to normal activity in the coming days," Mr O'Malley said.
Mr Trump criticised Mr Pence sharply in the final month of his administration after Mr Pence refused to intervene to stop the congressional certification of the 2020 electoral vote tally, an authority the vice president did not have.
The vote certifying Democrat Joe Biden's election victory was the backdrop for the events on January 6 when pro-Trump protesters stormed the US Capitol.
Mr Trump, who claims he lost the November election because of widespread fraud, told donors on Saturday that he had spoken to Mr Pence recently and told him he was still disappointed in him, an attendee at the dinner for Republican National Committee donors said.